Machine for icing cake and other pastry.



EATENTED FEB. 2'7, 1906.

C. W. CARTER.

MACHINE FOR ICING CAKE AND OTHER PASTRY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

No. 813,857. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

, G. W. CARTER.

MACHINE FOR ICING CAKE AND OTHER PASTRY. APPLICATION FILED MAYM, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

C. W. GARTER. MACHINE FOR ICING CAKE AND OTHER PASTRY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(Vii/7655,26. did

3977;; &zfar/7 eya. 0% Jim! qaww Specification of Letter! Patent.

PATENT OFFICE. MlN hlE APOLl S, MINNESOTA.

KE AND QTHER PASTRY- Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed Hay 1.4, 1904. Serial No. 207,910.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. CARTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Icing Cakes and other Pastries; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to machines for moldin icing or other semiplasticmaterial on ca es or other pastries, and has for its object to rovide animproved machine of this class.

this end my invention consists of the novel devices and combination ofdevices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accomanyin drawings, wherein likenotations re- Fer to like parts throughout the several views.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a'planview of my improved machine. Fig. 21s a view in front end elevation With some parts removed and othersbroken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through theentire machine on the line a m of Fig. 1 with some parts broken away. iFig. 4 is a view in section on the same plane as Fig. 3 with some partsbroken away, illustrating the same parts as in Fig. 3, but showing somethereof in a different position and also having some additional partsshown in diagram. Figs. 5 to 9,'inclusive, are diagram viewsillustrating four successive positions taken by the 006 erative parts,which supply the cakes to t e dies and deliver the finished productstherefrom.

The numeral 1 represents a suitable frame adapted to support the workingparts of the machine. I

The numeral 2 represents a stationary stock-hopper the bottom of whichis provided with a series of die-openings 3 and serves as the moldor dieplate of the machine.

The numeral 4 represents a cut-ofl valve mounted to move over the moldordie plate within the hopper for admitting the stock to the dies 3 atthe proper time and cutting ofi the supply thereto during the time thatthe cakes are being removed from the diesand The said cutdelivered fromthe machine. off valve 4 1s recessed on lts under slde or face to affordan air-chamber 5, which spans the ing position, as shown in Fig. 3. Thevalve 4 carries or has applied thereto asmall tube 6, opening below intothe air-chamber 5, for supplying air under pressure to the said chamberto force the molded material out from the dies. The said pipe 6 would bein communication in practice with a receiver or other source of supplyof. air under pressure.

The cut-off valve 4 is pivotally connected to the inner arms of a yoke7,which spans the forward Wall of the hop er 2, and has its outer armspivotally attac ed to a pair of crank-arms 8 on a shaft 9, one or bothof which are subject to a cam or cams 10 on cam-shaft 11 and to opposinsprings 12, con nected to the said arms 8 an anchored to the frame ofthe machine, as clearly shown in Figs. ,3 and 4. Under the cooperationof said cam or cams 10 and spring or springs 12 the cut-off valve 4receives intermittently as required or the proper action of the saidvalve. Said cam-shaft 1 1 is provided at one end with a pulley 13 forthe application of power from any suitable source and at its oppositeend with a small pulley 14, connected by belt 15 with pulley 16 on theprojecting trunnion of one member of a set of rollers 17, on which ismounted an endless conveyer 18, supporting receiving-trays 19, intowhich the finished products are delivered, as will presently more fullappeal.

The numeraf ZO represents a series of supply-magazines for holding thecakesor other pastries c, with the bottom member thereof subject to afeed-slide 21, mounted for reciprocating motion on a fixed guide-deck 22and 24, suitably journaled in the forward side brackets of the mainframe 1, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rock-shaft 24 has fixedthereto a crank-arm 25, connected by turnbuckle-rod 26 with a lever 27,loosely mounted on the shaft 9 and subject to cam 28 on the camshaft 11,and a suitable opposing spring 29, shown as ap lied to the crank of theshaft 24 and anc ored to the main frame I. There are as many magazines20, with corresponding feed-slides 21 and operating-arms 23, as thereare die-openings in the mold or die plate forming the bottom of thestock-hopper 2. t

The cake forced out from the magazine 20 dies when the cut-off valve isin its die-clos-' reciprocating motions in reverse directions,

subject to a crank-arm 23, fixed to rock-shaft 5 by the feed-slide 21 isdelivered through an inclined trough to the u per end of a pivoted chute31, having a ependm arm 32 subject to a cam 33 on the cam-sha 11 and toopposing spring 34, shown as connected to the rear. upper end of theivoted chute 31 and anchored below to the s aft 9. The pivoted chute 31is of such len th as to underreach the cooperating die 3 o themold-plate, and at the die-spanning portion thereof the side walls ofthe chute are reduced, leaving an extended portion of the floor of thechute witn low side walls at its outer end and which extended portion isshown as dipping downward at a slight angle to the minor body portion ofthe chute. There are as many pivoted chutes 31 as there are dies 3 inthe mold-plate, and all these chutes 31 are indeendently and adjustablypivoted and subect to independent earns 33 and op osing springs 34 forpermitting an desire indeopposing springs 40, connected to said armspendent adjustment theme for the best 1ardaptation to the functionsrequired there- Sets of guard-figures 35 are adj-ustably secured to andcarried by lever-arms 36, which are all fixed to a common rock-shaft 37,suitably journaled in the main frame or otherwise and provided with oneormore depending arms 38, subject to corresponding cams 39 on thecam-shaft 11 and to corresponding 38 at one end and anchored at theother to the frame or other fixed base of resistance.

The sets of fingers 35 have upturned tips at their outer ends whichembrace the outerend of the cooperatin pivoted chute 3-1 and rise to apoint above t e delivery end of the chute for cooperation therewith tocatch and hold the cake and center the same under the die inproper-position to receive the molding mate rial, as will be renderedmore distinct in tracing the general operation of the machine. Thefingers 35 and their carrying-arms 36 constitute ard levers or deviceswhich co- 0 erate wit the ivoted chutes 31 to receive t e cakes c from te force-feed devices to supply the same one at a time to the cooperatingdies, to hold the cake in its die-centered position until the materialis molded thereon and to deliver the finished product to thereceiving-trays 19 or other suitable receptacle.

A concave guide-deck 41 is shown as suitabl supported by the main frameabove the on less carrier 18 in osition to receive the frosted cakesfrom t e cooperating chutes and guard-levers and to direct the same intothe trays 19 on the face of the carrier.

In an insulated cross bar or head 42 (shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4) aremounted a series of spring-seated metallic feeler-like contacts 43. Theinsulated bar 42 is carried by crank-arms '44, fixed to'a rock-shaft 45,jourfialed in the main frame and provided with a pair of depending arms46, which bear against andare subject to the arms 8 on the shaft 9,through which motion is imparted to the yoke 7 and the cut-off valve 4.The said rock-shaft 45 is also provided with projecting crank-arms 47,to which are attached the upper ends of springs 48, which have theirlower ends ano ored to the main frame 1 and hold the arms 46 of therock-sh aft 45 always in'contact with the faces of the lever-arms 8,which therefore serve as cams cooperating with the springs 48 to givethe required rocking motion to the shaft 45 and the contact-carrying bar42.

From a battery 49 or other source of electric current a conductor 50extends to the' main frame 1, through which and the working partscurrent can reach the pivoted chutes 31. The insulated feeler-head 42 isconnected by conductor 51 with the other ole of the battery 49, and inthis circuit is mcluded an electric bell 52 or other sounding device, asshown in diagram Fig. 4. The said parts (marked 42 to 52, inclusive)constitute an alarm device for notifying the operator when the supply ofcakes has failed for any die, so that e can stop the machine before themolding material can waste through the open or unbacked dies of themold-plate.

An idle rock-shaft 53 is shown as journaled in the main frame and asprovided with a pair of hand-levers 54, one of which has attachedthereto a clutch-shifter 55, as best shown in Fig. 1, for throwing thecam-shaft 11 in and out of gear with its driving-pulley 13 for stoppingand startin the machine at will. From cross-bar 56 epend stops 57,projectin into the path of the cakes c on the pivoted c ute 31 forintercepting and hold- 1n the cakes at the heads of the chutes, as

i 1 later more fully appear.

Operation: All the parts o'f'themachine have now been specified, and theactions of more or less thereof may be clear from the detaildescription. It is thought, however, that it will be serviceable to givea summary of the general operation of the machine, and which may bestated as follows: The machine was primarily designed to apply icing tocakes or other pastries, and this class of molding material may be saidto be in a semiplastic condition, as it is in the form of acomparatively thin paste, but one stiff enough to old its molded formunder the action of the dies. Let it be assumed that the stock-hopper 2has been charged with the said icing or other molding material in propercondition, that the sugply-magazines 20 have been properly loa ed withcakesc or other pastries to which the icing is to be applied, and,further, that the machine is in motion. The successive actions can thenbe readily traced from he drawings, especially from the diagram viewsFigs. 5 to 9, inclusive. Directin attention first to the main view, Fig.4, an the diagram View Fi 5, it will be seen that one cake 0 is being hed in its die-centered position and another cake 0 is being held at thehead of the chute by stop 57, that the cut-off valve 4 is in its openposition, leaving the die open or uncovered for permitting the icing topass therein and be molded thereby on the surface of the cake at thedie-centered osition. It will also be noted that the sli e 21 of theforce-feed device is in its innermost position, with the column ofcakesc in the magazine resting on the top thereof. Figs. 4,- 5 maytherefore be said to show the parts as they appear when in moldingposition and can convenientlybe taken as the starting-point for tracingthe actions. When sufficient time has elapsed for the pro er quantity ofmolding material to have fil ed the dies upon the exposed surface of thedie-centered cakes, the cams 10 will ermit the springs 12 to force thecut-off va ve 4 into its cut-off or dieclosing position, as showninFig.6, thereby cutting off the su ply of molding material from the diesan rendering available the air-pressure within the chamber 5 of thecutofi valve to force the molded material out from the dies as soon asthe ivoted chutes 31 and the cooperating guardevers made up of 3 theparts 35 and 36 begin to lower. The cutoff valve then remains in itsdie-closing position until a new cake is centered under the die. Thecams 33, operative on the depending arms 32 of the pivoted chutes 31,are of suchform and so set in respect to the cams 39, whichoperate onthe depending arms 38 of the rock-shaft 37, carrying the guard-leversmade up of the parts 35 and 36, that the chute and its guard-lever willstart to lower together, as shown in Fig. 3, but that soon thereafter adifferential movement will begin to be imparted to the guard-lever, soas to move the same in advance of the chute. This differential motion isshown as beginning at ential motion will increase until theguard-fingers35 have been pulled entirely away from the chute 31, asshown in Fig. 8 and by the dotted lines inFi 4, thus permitting thefinished product or osted cake 0 to be delivered under the action ofgravity off from the lower end of the chute and over the guide 41 to areceiving-tray 19 on the carrier 18 or other suitable receptacle. Duringthis delivery separation of the pivoted chute and its cooperatingguard-lever the cake 0 which was atthe head of the chute when the partswere in the ositions shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 will be sliding down thechute 31 and would pass off from the chute but before that can occur thearms 38 of the guard-lever rock-shaft will have passed off from the highpoints of the earns 39, thereby ermitting the opposing springs 40 tocome 1nto action and to throw t e guard-levers instantly upward intotheir closed position in respect to the cooperating 'chutos 31, and thusbringing the projecting tips of the fingers 35 in position to interce tand hold the descending cake 0, as clear y shown in Fig. 9, and thenunder the continued action of the springs 34 and 40 the pivoted chutesand their cooperating guard-levers will be restored to the positionsshown in Figs 4 and 5, and thereby carry the new cake into itsdie-centered position. During the time that the parts whose actions havebeen traced move from the positions shown in Fig .7 to the positionshown in Fig. 8 the feed-slide 21 will move from the position shown inFigs. 5, 6, and 7 to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, therebypermitting the column of cakes to drop, so as to cause the lower memberof the column to be directly in advance of the slide, as shown in Figs.8 and 9, and later by the time the parts have reassumed the positionsshown in Fig. 5 the slides 21 will each have forced out a new cake 0into the receiving end of the cooperating chute 3 1, where it will beintercepted by the depending stop 57, as shown in Figs. 3 4, 5, and 6,and remain until the next delivery motion begins, as above described.

The foregoing statement traces all the operations with the exception ofthe action of the alarm device. The Cakes 0 are of coursenon-conductors. The spring-seated contacts or feelers 43 are so locatedthat the cakes c, intercepted by the depending stops 57 and held therebyat the head ends of the pivoted chutes 31 when the parts are in theposition shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, will be directly below the saidcontacts 43 and serve to intercept'the same and prevent the contactsfrom touching the underlyin pivoted chutes 31, thereby serving to hold te alarmcircuit open if the feed-supply of cakes is normal or as itshould be for all the cooperating dies; but if the supply of cakesshould have run out in any of the feed-magazines 20 or if any of theforce-feed devices should have failed to work a break or skip in thesupplychain of cakes will thus be produced and there will be no cake tointercept the contactfeeler 43. Hence the feeler will move downward toits limit and make contact with the underlying chute 31, thereby closingthe circuit and causing an alarm to be sounded by the bell 52 or otherdevice. This indicates the condition to the operator in time to permithim to stop the machine before the cutoff valve 4 can again be movedinto its open position. Hence this alarm device will notify theoperator'in time for him to stop the machine before any waste of themolding material can take place through the unbacked and uncovered dies,thus not only saving the material, but avoiding the troublesome messWhich would otherwise be produced. I

By actual usage I have demonstrated the efficiency of the machine hereindisclosed for the pur oses had in view.

It wil of course be understood that modifications can be made in many ofthe partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letfers Patent of the UnitedStates, is as folows:

1. Ina machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper and. a mold or die plate, of a cut-off valve provided withan air-chamber spanning the mouth of the die-plate, when said valve isin a die-closing position, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper and a mold or die plate, of a cut-01f valve provided withanair-chamber s anning the mouths of the dies when said va ve is in itsdie-closing position, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astockhopper and a mold or die plate, of a cut-off valve and means forrendering air, under pressure, available to force the molded materialout of the dies, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stock-hoper and a mold or die plate, of a cut-off va ve which is recessed toafford an air-chamber spanning the dies, when the valve is in itsdie-closing position, and is provided with connections at: fording asupply of air, under pressure, to said chamber, for forcing the moldedmaterial out of the dies, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper and a mold or die late, of a pivoted chute and a pivotedguardever, cooperating to supply the cakes,

one at a time, to the cooperating die, to hold the cake to itsdie-centered position until the material is molded thereon and todeliver the finished product from the die, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper and a mold or die plate, of a movable chute and a movableguard device, subject to a difierential motion in respect to each other,and cooperative to supply the cakes, one at a time, to the dies, holdthe cakes in their die-centered position until the material is moldedthereon and to deliver the finished product from the dies, substantiallyas described.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper, a mold or die plate, and a cut-off valve, of a pivotedchute and a pivoted guard-lever provided with centering -fingers adaptedto extend above the floor of the chute, which chute and guard-levercooperate to supply the cakes to the cooperatin die, one at a time, tohold the cake in its die-centered position until the material is moldedthereon, and to deliver the finished product to receiving-trays or otherreceptacles, the said chute and guardlever being subject to adifierential movement for separating the same, to efi'ect the delivery,and to bring the same together, immediately thereafter, to catch andhold the next cake and bring the same to its die-centered position,substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper, a mold or die plate and a cut-ofi valve, of a feed-maazinc having a forced-feed device for supp ying the cakes, one at atime, a pivoted chute and a pivoted guard-lever, cooperating to receivethe cakes from said force-feed device, to supply the same, one at atime, to the-cooperating die, to hold the cake in its die-centeredposition, until the material is molded thereon, and to deliver thefinished product to receiving-trays or other receptacles, substantiallyas described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a stock-hopper having as its bottom a mold or dieplate, provided with a series of die-openings, a cut-0E valve movtheircentered position until the material is molded thereon, and to deliverthe finished product into receiving-trays or other receptacles,substantially as described.

10. In a machine for molding semiplastic material, such as icing, oncakes or other pastries, the combination with devices for supplying thecakes to the dies, one at a time, in a continuous chain, of an alarmdevice operative to indicate a skip or break in the supplychain ofcakes, whereby the machine can be stopped before the plastic materialcan waste through the unbacked or open dies of the mold-plate,substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with astock-hopper, mold or die plate, and devices for supplying the cakes tothe dies, one at a time, in continuous chains, of'an electric alarmdevice, including a circuit-controller, with normally intercepted by caes in the supplychains to hold the circuit open, if the supply isnormal, but adapted to close the circuit if any of the interceptingcakes, always present in the normal feed, should be absent,substantially as and for the urpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE W. CARTER.

Witnesses:

JAS. F. WILLIAMSON, F. D. MERCHANT.

